Ana Ines King and Antonio Hidalgo of the Latin Ballet of Virginia, which presents "Poemas" from March 17 to 20. (Photo by Birgitte Dodd Tingley)
A world premiere by Mexican-born choreographer Edgar Zendejas, the Latin Ballet’s interpretation of works by Edgar Allan Poe and Pablo Neruda, a film about the ghosts of buried kings inhabiting Thai soldiers, the Church Hill Irish Festival and an EP release by Richmond indie pop trio My Darling Fury are among this weekend’s highlights.
But first, some arts news: What does it take to make a living as an artist in Richmond, or to successfully run a gallery? What goes into determining the price of a painting? Have you been thinking about purchasing original art for your home but don’t know where to start? Are you intimidated by the thought of walking into an art gallery because you don't understand how it all works? Harry Kollatz Jr. and Jessica Ronky Haddad help to demystify Richmond’s visual arts scene in the The Business of Art series of articles, now up online.
At the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, Richmond photographer Cynthia Henebry’s “Mavis in the Backseat” placed second in the Outwin Boochever competition last week. In an interview, she tells us how it came about: "There's a whole backstory to her life and my life until that moment, and the photograph is how they intersect."
Now, back to those ghosts of buried kings. The University of Richmond’s 27th Annual International Film Series continues this weekend with Thailand’s “Cemetery of Splendor,” in which a group of soldiers who are excavating a building site all develop a narcolepsy-like condition. Keng, a volunteer caring for the soldiers, believes that the epidemic is tied to the disturbance of an ancient burial ground of former kings. The soldiers become living ghosts of the dead and illusions of the mind are readily mistaken for reality. (Sounds mysterious and spooky.) Screenings are free. Friday, March 18, at 3 p.m. in Jepson Hall, Room 118, and 7:30 p.m. in Ukrop Auditorium at the Robins School of Business, and Sunday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Ukrop Auditorium. Here’s a trailer:
What was it like to be a woman living in Richmond after the Civil War? The Virginia Historical Society offers some insights through its new tour “Rebuilding a Ruined City: Richmond Women after the War,” on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Former slave-holding elites learned to manage on their own, poor women struggled to get food and supplies, and African-Americans, for the first time, navigated the city as free women. $17. 358-4901 or vahistorical.org.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations continue at the Church Hill Irish Festival, March 19 and 20. For the 31st year, enjoy activities, numerous live bands and local craft beer. St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. 356-1093 or churchhillirishfestival.com.
MUSIC
Veteran bluegrass player Rob Ickes (of Blue Highway) and talented newcomer Trey Hensley will be playing an intimate “house concert” show as part of the JAMInc series on Friday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. at In Your Ear Music and Recording, 1813 E. Broad St. $25. Bring food and drinks to share. 303-0888 or jaminc.org.
My Darling Fury (Image by Alexander Whiteway and Zenzile Skylark, courtesy Girlie Action)
Richmond indie pop trio My Darling Fury is releasing its new EP “Aches” on Friday, accompanied by a show Saturday, March 19, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, which will be releasing its Hardywood Hoplar IPA, starting at 2 p.m. The concerts begin at 5 p.m., and include performances by the Dazeases, The Mad Extras, and Lauren Hoffman & The Secret Storm.
Hailing from New York City’s Brooklyn borough, the indie pop band Lake Street Dive stops at The National on Saturday in support of its major label debut, “Side Pony,” released in February on Nonesuch Records. They’ll be joined by Houston-based soul band The Suffers. The National. 7:30 p.m. $25. 612-1900 or thenationalva.com (Also see Robey Martin's interview with Lake Street Dive vocalist Rachael Price.)
Looking ahead to next week, the Spring Fling Rock AF Tour is bringing four alt rock bands — Grammy nominee Cage the Elephant, Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands — to the Richmond Coliseum on Tuesday, March 22. 7 p.m . $29.50 to $39.50. 780-4970 or richmondcoliseum.net.
STAGE
Company dancer Sabrina Holland in the Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre. (Photo by Sarah Ferguson, 2015)
Tonight through Sunday, Richmond Ballet Artistic Director Stoner Winslett’s 1996 work “Echoing Past” follows a lead female dancer as she remembers important chapters in her past and draws strength from them. Also featured in the Studio Theatre production is a world premiere work by Mexican-born choreographer Edgar Zendejas called “Realms of Amber.” Zendejas’ work is also about the strength of women. “I believe that the soul or spirit of anybody — a woman or a man — is actually female,” Zendejas says in a news release from Richmond Ballet. “There’s an energy inside of you that’s female, which to me, means there is something that is good. I’m very attracted by this beauty, and by the beauty of women. And in my culture, Mexican culture, we celebrate women. They are icons — our mothers, sisters, grandmothers. This female figure is very strong in our lives, and gives us a very strong sense of support.” $21 to $41. 344-0906 or richmondballet.com.
Expressions of passion and tragedy will play out in the Latin Ballet of Virginia’s interpretation of works by Edgar Allan Poe, Pablo Neruda, Federico García Lorca and Alfonsina Storni during a limited run of “Poemas,” running at Richmond CenterStage’s Gottwald Playhouse on Thursday and Friday and the Edgar Allan Poe Museum on Saturday and Sunday. Nicole Cohen has a preview.
Also opening Thursday is “Medea Myth,” part of TheatreLab’s Cellar Series. According to the theater’s description, this new work helmed by VCU adjunct instructor and MFA candidate Brandon Sterrett is about the destructive power of love: “Rebounding off a myth that has survived for 3,000 years, it asks, ‘Why do we destroy the things we most love?’ ” The show runs through March 26, featuring Mikayla Bartholomew, Mitchell Cole, Aiden Orr, Joseph Mayes, Courtney Hans, Cullan Thieman, Connor Haggerty, and Dion Torres, with original music by Robbie Kinter, music director at VCU’s Department of Dance and Choreography. 300 E. Broad St. $5 to $15. 505-0558 or theatrelabrva.org.
In Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals,” each musical movement captures the essence of a particular creature. Dancers from the School of Richmond Ballet will perform Saturday with the Richmond Symphony. Come early for a free pre-concert festival with an Instrument Petting Zoo. 11 a.m. $11 to $17. 592-3400 or richmondcenterstage.com.
It's the last weekend to see “Lazarus Syndrome.” In Richmond Triangle Players' production, a former concert pianist living with HIV is visited by his father and brother, bearing brisket, a bottle of Manischewitz and family baggage. $28 to $30. 1300 Altamont Ave. 346-8113 or rtriangle.org.
Also playing:
“I Do! I Do!” now through 4/3
This intimate musical by the creators of “The Fantasticks” follows two soul mates as they navigate the joys and challenges of a 50-year marriage. Hanover Tavern. $40. 282-2620 or va-rep.org.
“Croaker” through 4/17
The musical by Jason Marks and Debra Clinton is a contemporary re-telling of “The Princess and the Frog," playing at Virginia Rep’s Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn. $20. 282-2620 or va-rep.org.
ART EXHIBITIONS
"Autumn Kiss" by Sharon Guyton Lalik (Courtesy of the artist)
Opening Thursday at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen is “Hyperrealism: Beyond the Photograph,” work by artist Sharon Guyton Lalik, who says in an artist’s statement that “painting in a photographic style allows me to showcase an ordinary subject in an extraordinary way, revealing its intricate details, blemishes, and irregularities.” An opening reception is planned for 7 to 9 p.m., and the show will be up in the Gumenick Family Gallery through May 15. 261-2787 or artsglenallen.com.
Continuing:
“Triangle, Circle, Square” through 3/26
New York City-based artists Jennifer Lauren Smith and Andrew Brehm collaborate to create a multi-channel video installation at Gallery5 consisting of three video-graphic vignettes, each depicting a geometric sculpture or shape inserted by the artists into a natural environment. 200 W. Marshall St. 510-0488 or gallery5arts.org.
“Greg Osterhaus: New Works” through 3/26
The artist is known for his vibrant rural Virginia landscapes and cow paintings. Glavé Kocen Gallery. 1620 W. Main St. 358-1990 or glavekocengallery.com.=
“Constructing from Life” and “Resting On Is Relying On” through 3/26
Paintings by Peri Schwartz and sculpture by Jere Williams at Page Bond Gallery. 1625 W. Main St. 359-3633 or pagebondgallery.com.
“Annual Judged Art Show 2016” through 3/28
About 40 artists are participating in the show, judged by professional artist Jos Biviano. All works are for sale, and 15 percent of proceeds will benefit Easter Seals. For Art’s Sake Gallery & Studio, 9770 Gayton Road. 740-1400 or forartssakegallery.com.
“The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design” through 4/17
Organized by The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville and the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation, this exhibition at the Virginia Historical Society features 44 chairs from the early 19th century to the present, chosen for their beauty and historical context. $20. 358-4901 or vahistorical.org.
“Subject to Change” through 4/23
Works by David Emitt Adams, K.K. DePaul, Heidi Kirkpatrick, Lisa Kokin, Tarrah Krajnak, Rachel Phillips and Kris Sanford at Candela Books + Gallery. 214 W. Broad St. 225-5527 or candelabooks.com.
“Fine Art and Furniture” through 4/30
This show at Ashland’s Gallery Flux pairs paintings by a variety of artists with artisan-made furniture and pottery. 307-B England St. 752-3540 or galleryflux.com.
“Different Trends” through May 31
Works by Ugandan artist Hassan Mukiibi at Elegba Folklore Society. 101 E. Broad St., 644-3900 or efsinc.org.
“Thomas R. Schiff: Virginia 360°” through 6/19
Contemporary photographer Thomas R. Schiff made these 40 panoramic images in Virginia between 2004 and 2013. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Free. 340-1400 or vmfa.museum
Also check out our Art Guide for a directory of Richmond-area museums, galleries and exhibition spaces:
